Favorite Schools

Favorite Teams

Michigan

Change Region

comments

Social media efforts call for 'justice for Daniel Holtzclaw,' Oklahoma City cop accused of sex crimes

Daniel Holtzclaw

In this Sept. 2, 2012 file photo, provided by the Oklahoma Police Dept., Oklahoma City police officer Daniel Holtzclaw stands next to his vehicle. Holtzclaw, 27, who was a star football player in high school and college, is accused of sexually assaulting at least six women during traffic stops and investigators are looking into whether there are more victims. (AP Photo/Oklahoma Police Dept., File)
(AP)

Holtzclaw is alleged to have committed several sex crimes while serving as an on-duty officer in an Oklahoma City neighborhood.

Charges expected to be filed later this week include first-degree rape, rape by instrumentation, three counts of forcible oral sodomy, two counts of sexual battery and two counts of indecent exposure. His alleged victims are seven black women ranging in age from 34 to 58.

This Aug. 21, 2014, photo made available by the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office shows Daniel K. Holtzclaw. The 27-year-old Oklahoma City police officer was arrested Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014, and is being held in lieu of $5 million bond after being accused of committing a series of sexual assaults against at least six women while on duty. (AP Photo/Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office)AP

Holtzclaw’s sister, Jenny Holtzclaw, started a GoFundMe page with the goal of raising $100,000 to support him and his family. In less than 72 hours, 28 people have contributed nearly $7,000.

“Daniel Ken Holtzclaw, a 27-year-old Oklahoma City Police Officer, not only deserves, but is required by the law, to be given a presumption of innocence,” the page reads.

“The pursuit of justice will be lengthy, but with the support of family, friends, and the community, Daniel Holtzclaw will be vindicated and justice will prevail.”

Similar pages were launched on Twitter and Facebook.

More than 350 people have “liked” the Facebook page “Justice for Daniel Holtzclaw” while about a dozen users have followed the Twitter page.

Like the GoFundMe page, the Facebook and Twitter pages are calling for due process for Daniel Holtzclaw.

Capt. Dexter Nelson of the Oklahoma City Police Department said that an investigation was launched after one of the alleged victims came forward claiming Daniel Holtzclaw sexually assaulted her.

The department began looking into other encounters with Holtzclaw, and police said six other women claimed to have been sexually assaulted by him as well. He was suspended with pay on June 18, 2014, before being arrested two months later on Thursday, Aug. 21.

Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater said he expects more women to come forward since all of the allegations only go back a few months – from February 2014 through June 2014 – and Holtzclaw has been on the force since 2011.

If convicted, Holtzclaw could face life in prison without the possibility for parole.

Former Eastern Michigan University football player Daniel Holtzclaw (No. 44) was arrested for the alleged sexual assault of seven women while he was an on-duty police officer in Oklahoma City. Holtzclaw attended EMU on a football scholarship from 2005 to 2008 and was a Freshman All-American at the linebacker position. He is a 27-year-old native of Enid, Oklahoma.The Ann Arbor News File Photo

The 27-year-old Enid, Oklahoma-native attended Eastern Michigan University from 2005 until 2008 when he earned a degree in criminal justice.

He was also a four-year starter for EMU's football team and earned honors as a Freshman All-American. He ranks as EMU's leader for most starts and has the second-most tackles in the school's history.

The Enid News reports that Daniel Holtzclaw’s lawyer has asked for a bond reduction. Holtzclaw is currently being held in the Oklahoma County jail on $5 million bond, but his lawyer said bond should be significantly less.

“If he’s charged with what they’re currently holding him on, it would be $139,000 pursuant to the bond schedule,” attorney Scott Adams told The Enid News.